News
Petrol: Marketers, NNPCL Counter Dangote Refinery On Boycott Claims Over Lower Pricing
The long walk to solving Nigeria’s oil and gas crisis took a fresh twist on Thursday, when the Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin accused local petroleum marketers of boycotting Dangote Refinery’s petrol despite offering lower prices.
Edwin speaking during an X space session organised by Nairametric on Thursday said only 3 percent of local petroleum marketers were interested in buying its recently rolled-out petrol.
He stressed that local marketers refused to purchase PMS from the 650,000 barrels per day Lagos-based refinery while having a preference for imported petrol.
His claim struck Nigerians and stakeholders differently in the face of the country’s layers of challenges.
This comes barely weeks after the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote officially announced the rollout of Petrol.
Later, the company announced the September 15, 2024 date for the lifting of PMS.
NNPCL recently confirmed that it is awaiting the 15 of September, 2024, date to commence lifting petrol from Dangote Refinery.
The announced Dangote Refinery’s petrol comes at the time the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited, the country’s sole PMS importer adjusted its petrol price to N897 and N855 depending on the location.
Consequently, other petrol outlets dependent on NNPCL increased their fuel pump prices to around N980 to over N1000 per liter depending on the location.
About a 50 percent pump price hike had been a major headache for many Nigerians. To make matters worse, there is a petrol supply challenge with pockets of queues in major cities. As expected, transportation costs and other goods responded to the latest petrol pump hike.
Meanwhile, the statement by Edwin on Thursday that local marketers are boycotting Dangote Refinery’s petrol with lower prices have raised concerns.
DAILY POST on Thursday spoke exclusively with the President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association, Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Abubakar Maigandi and the Spokesperson of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye where they revealed that local marketers cannot boycott Dangote Refinery’s petrol as claimed.
Tell us your Petrol Price – PETROAN President, Gillis-Harry to Dangote Refinery
On his part, Gillis-Harry said that local marketers don’t even know the price of Dangote Refinery’s petrol, let alone boycotting the product.
According to him, Dangote Refinery should unveil the price of its PMS.
He noted that marketers are willing and able to patronize Dangote Refinery’s petrol at a price that would be beneficial to both parties.
He queried: “Why don’t Dangote Refinery give us a price list of what his price is? They cannot tell the price of Dangote Refinery’s PMS which they claim is cheaper than imported petrol.
“What is the price of DRL petrol? How come they are saying marketers are boycotting their petrol? We don’t know how much Dangote is selling its petrol. We are willing to partner with him but we partner on the basis that we would be able to sell with a human face.
“Right now, everybody is crying. The buying price, not the landing price at retail outlets is N870 per liter. In filling stations in some areas N855 or N890. When we buy and take to our retail outlets with all the costs, including logistics, how much would it be?
“But at least, we know what NNPCL is selling fuel, let us also know what Dangote Refinery will sell petrol. We don’t know. We are anxious to know. We want to be able to patronize Dangote Refinery petrol.”
When asked about the readiness of Marketers to buy Dangote Refinery’s petrol, he said, “We are willing to lift Dangote’s petrol. We don’t want him to sell his product at a loss while we don’t want terms of sales that will be strangulated.
“For instance, in the last trial of Dangote Refinery’s Automotive Gas Oil, we were made to buy a minimum of one million liters of diesel.
“How many retail outlets can afford to pay such an amount of money? That is the challenge because everybody wants to buy one, two or three trucks to take to their retail outlets. That was what we experienced with AGO.”
“We don’t know what we should have with Dangote Refinery PMS because he has never spoken to us or given us a basis to trade with him. However, we are willing and able to work with him”, he said.
Marketers can’t boycott Dangote Refinery’s petrol – IPMAN president
On his part, Maigandi explained that IPMAN and its members did not receive any message from Dangote Refinery over its petrol until Wednesday, noting that marketers have yet to know the price of the firms’ petrol.
According to him, there is no way marketers would boycott Dangote Refinery Petrol with cheaper prices.
He noted that marketers are ready to patronize Dangote Refinery provided that its petrol prices are not more than the prices they are getting from other places.
Maigandi said IPMAN held a meeting on Thursday to discuss a partnership request letter written by Dangote Refinery.
He revealed that IPMAN plans to meet with Dangote Refinery to marshal out how to implement the partnership.
“We will hold a meeting with Dangote Refinery.
“We didn’t receive any information on Dangote Refinery until yesterday (Wednesday). We don’t know the price of Dangote Refinery’s Petrol.
“After a meeting with our members today (Thursday), we are ready to buy Petrol from Dangote Refinery in any condition provided the price is not more than the price we are getting from other places.
“NNPCL, you know they are the sole importer, the company sells to us at an average price of N875 per liter.
“For the NNPCL product, we sell at N930 or N940 depending on how the product was obtained. While at the depot, we buy at N990 per liter. We are marketers, anywhere we can get it at a lower rate, we will go there.
“In the letter to us, Dangote said the PMS is ready. The price was not stated.
“We can’t boycott Dangote Refinery; if Dangote Refinery’s petrol is cheaper, how can marketers boycott the product?
“We don’t have any issue with Dangote Refinery”, he told DAILY POST.
We are negotiating Petrol prices with Dangote Refinery – NNPCL
Also, the Spokesperson of NNPCL, Soneye said he doesn’t believe anyone will boycott PMS with lower prices.
He revealed that NNPCL is currently negotiating prices with Dangote Refinery ahead of the company’s announcement that petrol will be available by Sunday, September 15.
“I don’t believe local marketers will boycott PMS with lower prices; that seems unlikely.
“We are currently negotiating prices with the Dangote Refinery. We were informed that it would be available by September 15, so we are waiting for that”, he told DAILY POST exclusively.
No Petrol has been loaded at Dangote Refinery – MD 11Plc, Oyebanji
Managing Director, 11Plc, Mr Tunji Oyebanji said no petrol has been loaded from Dangote Refinery.
According to him, the earliest Dangote Refinery can loan petrol is September 15, 2024.
“No petrol has been loaded from DR to the best of my knowledge. Earliest we expect it is on the 15th”, he said.
Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi recently defended his past interactions with armed groups, stating he “took the bull by the horns” in 2021 as a necessary step to address Nigeria’s insecurity.
In a post shared on Facebook on Thursday, Gumi said decades of neglect of disadvantaged populations had created deep socio-economic inequalities, leaving many youths vulnerable to manipulation by external forces seeking to destabilise the country.
According to him, the widening gap between the rich and the poor has turned many young people into “ready-made foot soldiers” in cycles of violence that enable the exploitation of Nigeria’s resources.
He also criticised the political class for being largely unresponsive, while noting that the intellectual community is preoccupied with survival struggles.
Reflecting on his past efforts, Gumi said he “took the bull by the horns” in 2021 by attempting to reintegrate violent elements into society rather than allowing them to be further radicalised.
He wrote: “Nigeria for decades has ignored the underprivileged section of its society. There is a significant socio-economic discrepancy, and the society is stratified. This makes our teaming youth ready-made foot soldiers for any foreign interest trying to divide us and rule. To plunder our resources while we are involved in a vicious circle of violence.
”Unfortunately, the political class is unattentive while the intelligentsia is held hostage in the struggle for existence.
“In 2021, I took the bull by the horns in an attempt to bring some of these uncouth elements back to our fold rather than letting them be exploited by the devil.
“I still believe this is the only way out of our predicament. However, it needs the political will and determination to achieve.
“May Allah bring peace back to our nation.”
The Federal High Court in Abuja rejected an ex-parte application seeking to bar Senator Ireti Kingibe from participating in the activities of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Justice Peter Lifu declined the request from Wuse Ward leaders, ruling that such an order could not be granted without first hearing from the senator.
Instead, the judge ordered the ward leaders said to be loyal to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to put the senator on notice to appear in court to join issues with them on their grievances.
Justice Lifu in a ruling on Thursday held that discretion in such a request for prohibition from party activities and in political matters must be exercised judicially and judiciously.
The judge said justice would be met in the case of the plaintiffs only when the side of the defendant is heard on its merit, along with that of the plaintiffs.
Consequently, the judge ordered that Senator Ireti Kingibe should be served with all court processes by the plaintiffs to enable her become aware of the suit and to prepare her defense.
The judge fixed April 20, 2026, for the plaintiffs and the serving senator to appear before him for hearing of all applications in the matter.
Those who sued the senator in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CV/539/2026 are Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel, on behalf of themselves and ward members as plaintiffs. The senator is the sole defendant.
In their ex-parte application, Kingibe representing the FCT in the Senate was said to have been suspended on March 10, 2026 by her Wuse Ward executives following allegations of anti-party activities and disregard of your cnstitution of the ADC.
In the ex- parte application filed on their behalf by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Kolawole Olowookere, the aggrieved ADC members in Wuse Ward applied for an order of interim injunction restraining Kingibe from parading herself as a member of party, pending the hearing and determination of their motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
They also asked the judge to restrain the senator from performing any function, attending meetings or performing activities reserved for ADC members or representing the party in any activities.
Besides, the Ward Executive Committee had asked that she be restrained from further interfering with the administration of the ward, ward register and other activities.
The suit was predicated on five grounds among which are that Mrs Kingibe was placed on suspension due to anti-party activities, gross misconduct and confiscation of the ward statutory records.
They argued that the suspension followed due process as enshrined in the ADC constitution and ratified by the two thirds majority of the EXCO members.
They averred that despite the communication of the suspension to Kingibe, she has continued to hold parallel meetings, issue press statements as an ADC member, and using her security details to intimidate the executive committee.
“Her actions constitute flagrant disregard to the internal mechanism of the party,” the plaintiffs stated.
Meanwhile, a lawyer, Abubakar Marshall who claimed to be representing the senator, announced that he had filed a preliminary objection against the suit. He added that it was served on M. S. Garba, who stood for the plaintiffs at Thursday’s proceedings.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, visited Jos, Plateau State, on Thursday, April 2, 2026, to lead a high-powered security assessment following recent security breaches.
The visit was aimed at strengthening public confidence and reinforcing ongoing efforts to stabilize affected communities.
Colonel Appolonia Anele, acting Director, Army Public Relations, said in a statement that the visit forms part of ongoing efforts to restore calm and entrench lasting peace across the state.
According to the statement, upon arrival, the COAS was received by the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, in a clear demonstration of strong civil-military cooperation and a shared commitment to addressing emerging security challenges.
The statement said the COAS received a comprehensive operational briefing from the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander, Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, who highlighted ongoing operations and proactive measures being implemented in synergy with other security agencies to contain threats, protect lives and property, and stabilise affected communities.
“As part of his engagements, Lieutenant General Shaibu also interacted with community leaders and residents, reassuring them of the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian Army to safeguarding all law-abiding citizens.
He urged residents to remain calm, vigilant and supportive of security agencies by complying with the curfew and cooperating fully with ongoing operations and investigations, while going about their lawful activities.
The chairman of Jos North Local Government Area, Hon. Dachung Bagos, commended the COAS for the timely visit, noting that the presence of the nation’s top military leadership would boost public confidence and reinforce trust in ongoing security efforts.
Gumi Defends Dialogue As Sole Solution To Nigeria’s Insecurity
Court Clears Senator Ireti Kingibe To Remain Active In ADC
COAS Shaibu Hits Jos To Restore Peace, Public Confidence
President Tinubu Appoints New PTDF Executive, Reappoints TCN Head
Simi Welcomes Second Child With Adekunle Gold
United Nigeria Airlines Staff Suspended After Viral Amputee Abuse Video
Pay Your Fare: AIG Cracks Down On Officers Boarding For Free
INEC Removes David Mark, Aregbesola From ADC Leadership Portal
JUST IN: FG Approves Friday 3, Monday 6, as Easter Public Holidays
When 8 million Customers Trust You, Safety Cannot Be an Afterthought
-
News1 day agoWhen 8 million Customers Trust You, Safety Cannot Be an Afterthought
-
News2 days agoEl-Rufai Back In Detention After Temporary Compassionate Release
-
News1 day agoUnited Nigeria Airlines Staff Suspended After Viral Amputee Abuse Video
-
News2 days ago2027: Kwankwaso’s Exit Marks End Of NNPP – Kwankwasiyya Movement
-
News1 day agoJUST IN: FG Approves Friday 3, Monday 6, as Easter Public Holidays
-
News1 day agoPay Your Fare: AIG Cracks Down On Officers Boarding For Free
-
News2 days agoLagos CP Withdraws Taskforce From Traffic Duties
-
News1 day agoINEC Removes David Mark, Aregbesola From ADC Leadership Portal